“It’s crazy out here right now,” said Christopoulos, who was manning the state’s Emergency Operations Center, set up in response to the flash flooding that swept through.

According to a statement from Gov. Maggie Hassan’s office, 2.11 inches of rain fell in the Lebanon area between 3 and 4 p.m. Tuesday. The unexpected massive rainfall wreaked havoc on infrastructure already weakened by heavy rains on Monday night.

“We didn’t know this cell was coming through,” said Christopoulos. “We’ve had fire, police and DPW crews out all day assessing damage from last night. This one caught us off-guard. We’ve got major water damage to major roads.”

An employee at the Department of Public Works said there is massive flooding all over the city, sinkholes in roads, dislodged manhole covers. There appears to be a significant water main break as well.

“It’s bad,” the employee said. “Real bad.”

Christopoulos said that one apartment complex was evacuated and up to 20 residents from Slayton Hill Road sent to a shelter opened to the public at Lebanon High School.

“We’re trying to get ahead of this by evacuating anyone in danger before the next round of rains come,” the chief said.